Writing and illustrating children's books has allowed me to combine two of my principal interests - writing and drawing.  I loved reading adventure stories as a child and still feel inspired when my memory returns to the way those books used to make me feel.  Now I teach courses in children's literature at the university level, I thought it was about time that I put some of my own efforts out there.   It is important to remember your audience.  If you want to write for children, it helps if you can remember what it was like to be one.  It is also important not to talk down to children - they're smart people!